BJD-NCP seat sharing 'meaningful' talk inconclusive

The much-awaited seat sharing talk between Biju Janata Dal and Nationalist Congress Party remained inconclusive in Bhubhaneshwar  on Friday though leaders of both the parties termed the discussion as "meaningful".

NCP leader Praful Patel and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik held discussion for nearly 40 minutes, they failed to arrive at any conclusion over the number of seats to be given to NCP which has only two MLAs.

"The seat sharing between the BJD and NCP will be completed in a couple of days," Patnaik told reporters while Patel hoped an understanding in two-three days. Describing the discussion as "meaningful" and cordial, Patel said both the parties were committed to go to polls unitedly.

The NCP wants at least 17 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats, party sources said, adding, that the BJD is reluctant to spare two LS seats. However, the BJD was not adverse to sparing Balasore lok sabha seat to NCP, sources said.